Construction machine

ABSTRACT

To provide a construction machine capable of encouraging an operator to perform the driving and the operation for enhancing fuel efficiency. The construction machine includes information providing means  30  to notify the operator of the information such as the operation and/or an operational method or the like to enhance the fuel efficiency. The present construction machine provides the information by monitor display on a monitor screens  26  that is provided in an operator&#39;s cabin  11 . When operating machine levers  19  and  20  are positioned at a neutral position, if an engine  40  has the idle revolution number not less than a predetermined time, the information providing means  30  provides the information such as the operation or the like enhance the fuel efficiency.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a construction machine such as ahydraulic excavator or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

For a construction machine such as a hydraulic excavator or the like, itis preferable that energy saving is carried out upon traveling andperforming various operations. Therefore, when real fuel, efficiencydoes not attain target fuel efficiency, a conventional constructionmachine may be switched to energy saving operation (for example, referto Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2002-285890 (pp. 3-4, FIG.1)).

In other words, the construction machine described in theabove-described patent document calculates amount of the fuel consumedin fact and calculates real fuel efficiency as fuel consumption per unittime from this. Comparing this real fuel efficiency to predeterminedtarget fuel efficiency, when the real fuel efficiency is lower than thistarget fuel efficiency, the operation of the construction machine isswitched to the energy saving operation.

Thus, conventionally, the construction machine can perform the energysaving operation. However, according to the construction machinedescribed in the patent document 1, the operation is switched to theenergy saving operation after the fuel efficiency is lowered, namely,the operation is not switched to the energy saving operation unless thefuel efficiency is lowered. In the meantime, when the fuel efficiency islowered in actual use of the construction machine, the operation isautomatically shifted to the energy saving operation. In the meantime,according to the construction machine, it is possible to enhance thefuel efficiency by traveling or performing the operation with a lownumber of revolutions of an engine and by stopping wasteful idling. Inother words, enhancement of the fuel efficiency or the like can beachieved by devising the driving and operation by an operator of theconstruction machine. However, upon traveling and performing theoperation, the operator tends to ignore necessity of enhancement of thefuel efficiency, so that it is perceived that the operator is notconscious of the operation for enhancing the fuel efficiency. In otherwords, the operation for enhancing the fuel efficiency is only describedin an instruction booklet and an operator's manual separately, so thatunder the current state, the operator is not conscious of the operationand the driving for enhancing the fuel efficiency when he or sheperforms the operation in an operator's cabin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made taking the foregoing problems intoconsideration and an object of which is to provide a constructionmachine capable of encouraging an operator to perform the driving andthe operation for enhancing fuel efficiency.

Therefore, a construction machine according to the first aspect of theinvention may include information providing means 30 to notify anoperator of information such as an operation and/or an operationalmethod or the like to enhance the fuel efficiency.

According to the construction machine of the first aspect of theinvention, it is possible to notify the operator of the information suchas the operation or the like to enhance the fuel efficiency by means ofthe information providing means 30.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the construction machinemay provide the information by monitor display on a monitor screen 26that is disposed in an operator's cabin 11.

According to the construction machine of the second aspect of theinvention, the operator in the operator's cabin 11 can know theinformation such as the operation or the like to enhance the fuelefficiency from the monitor display on the monitor screen 26 in thisoperator's cabin 11. In other words, the operator can know theinformation visually.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the construction machinecan provide the information to the operator by voice attention by meansof a voice generator.

According to the construction machine of the third aspect of theinvention, the operator can know the information such as the operationor the like to enhance the fuel efficiency by the voice attention bymeans of the voice generator. In other words, without watching themonitor screen 26 or the like, the operator can grasp theabove-described each information by auditory sense while checking theforward from a forward window 23.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the construction machinemay transmit the above-described information from the outside of themachine to notify the operator of this information.

According to the construction machine of the fourth aspect of theinvention, the operator located in the operator's cabin 11 can benotified of the information such as the operation or the like to enhancethe fuel efficiency from the outside of the machine, namely, from theoperator (an administrator of the machine) located in a different placefrom the operator's cabin 11. In this case, since the information istransmitted from the outside, it is possible to arbitrarily set timingto transmit this information to the operator's cabin 11 and further, itis possible to arbitrarily change the content of the information to betransmitted.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the construction machinemay provide the information upon starting of an engine.

According to the construction machine of the fifth aspect of theinvention, by starting the engine, it is possible to notify the operatorof the information by the monitor display and the voice attention or thelike.

According to the construction machine of a sixth aspect of theinvention, the information providing means 30 can switch between an ONstate to provide the information and an OFF state not to provide theinformation.

According to the construction machine of the sixth aspect of theinvention, since the information providing means 30 can switch betweenthe ON state to provide the information and the OFF state not to providethe information, when the operator does not consider enhancement of thefuel efficiency or the operator takes the operation for enhancement ofthe fuel efficiency into consideration, namely, when the operator doesnot need to obtain the information, the information providing means 30can be switched to the OFF state. In addition, when the operator needsto obtain the information, the information providing means 30 can beswitched to the ON state.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the construction machinemay include a lock lever 21 having a function to lock the operation ofan implement 4 or the like, and detecting that this lock lever 21 isoperated to the lock side, the construction machine provides theinformation such as the operation or the like to enhance the fuelefficiency upon idling.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, since the constructionmachine can provide the information such as the operation or the like toenhance the fuel efficiency upon idling when the lock lever 21 isoperated to the lock side, upon idling in the locked state, for example,it is possible to instruct the operator to decrease the number ofrevolutions of an engine 40 or to stop idling.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, the construction machinecan detect that operating machine levers 19 and 20 are positioned at aneutral position and that the number of revolutions of the engine 40 isthe number of idling revolution, and then, when this number of idlingrevolution is a predetermined Lime and over, the present constructionmachine may provide the information such as the operation or the like toenhance the fuel efficiency upon idling.

According to the construction machine of the eighth aspect of theinvention, when this number of idling revolution takes a predeterminedtime and over with the operating machine levers 19 and 20 located at aneutral position, the operator can obtain the information such as theoperation or the like to enhance the fuel efficiency upon idling.Therefore, the operator can perform the operation to achieve enhancementof the fuel efficiency and wasteful use of the fuel for a long period oftime can be prevented.

According to the construction machine of the first aspect, the operatorcan know the information such as the operation and/or the operationalmethod or the like to enhance the fuel efficiency, upon traveling andperforming the operation (for example, upon drilling or the like byusing the implement), the operator can try to drive the constructionmachine or to perform the operation for enhancement of the fuelefficiency so as to contribute to achievement: of energy conservation.Further, since it is no need to provide detecting means and controlmeans or the like for enhancement of the fuel efficiency, reduction of acost can be achieved.

According to the construction machine of the second aspect, the operatorin the operator's cabin can know the information such as the operationor the like to enhance the fuel efficiency visually, so that he or shecan try to drive the construction machine or to perform the operationfor enhancement of the fuel efficiency.

According to the construction machine of the third aspect, the operatorcan grasp the information such as the operation or the like to enhancethe fuel efficiency by auditory sense while checking the forward from aforward window without watching the monitor screen or the like, so thathe or she can concentrate on the driving and the operation so as toperform the stable operation.

According to the construction machine of the fourth aspect, it ispossible to encourage the operator located in the operator's cabin toperform the operation or the like for enhancing the fuel efficiency fromthe operator (the administrator of the machine) located in the differentplace from the operator's cabin. In other words, in the case that theoperator in the operator's cabin is not conscious of such operation (theoperation for enhancing the fuel efficiency) when he or she performs theoperation, it is possible to awaken this operator to the fact that he orshe should perform the operation for enhancing the fuel efficiency so asto reliably achieve the energy saving. In addition, it is possible toarbitrarily set timing to transmit this information to the operator'scabin 11 and further, it is possible to arbitrarily change the contentof the information to be transmitted, so that the informationcorresponding to the operation performed by the operator in theoperator's cabin or the operation to be performed from now can benoticed to this operator, and this makes it easy for the operator toenhance the fuel efficiency.

According to the construction machine of the fifth aspect, by startingthe engine, it is possible to notify the operator of the information bythe monitor display and the voice attention or the like, so that theoperator can reliably grasp the above-described information upontraveling and performing the operation.

According to the construction machine of the sixth aspect, when theoperator does not consider enhancement of the fuel efficiency or theoperator takes the operation for enhancement of the fuel efficiency intoconsideration, namely, when the operator does not need to obtain theinformation, the information providing means can be switched to the OFFstate. Therefore, the information is not displayed by the monitordisplay and the voice attention, and this makes it possible for theoperator to concentrate on the driving operation and the operation ofthe implement. In addition, in the case that the operator wants toperform the operation for enhancement of the fuel efficiency, if theinformation providing means is in the ON state, it is possible todisplay the information for enhancement of the fuel efficiency by themonitor display and the voice attention or the like, and this results inthat the operator tries to perform driving and operation to enhance thefuel efficiency.

According to the construction machine of the seventh aspect, upon idlingin the locked state, for example, it is possible to instruct theoperator to decrease the number of revolutions of an engine or to stopidling. Therefore, upon such idling, by performing the operation to savefuel, the energy saving can be achieved.

According to the construction machine of the length aspect, when theoperating machine lever is located in the neutral position, bypreventing idling for a long period of time causing wasteful use of thefuel, it is possible to achieve energy saving.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a substantial part perspective view showing an embodiment of aconstruction machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an entire simple view showing the construction machine;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between the number ofrevolutions of an engine, a car speed, and fuel consumption;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between the number ofrevolutions of an engine, fuel consumption, and fuel efficiency;

FIG. 5 is a simple plane view showing the operation state of theconstruction machine;

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relationship between fuel consumption and acycle time in the operation state shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a simple view showing excavating operation in consideration ofenhancement of fuel efficiency of the construction machine;

FIG. 8 is a simple view showing excavating operation withoutconsideration of enhancement of fuel efficiency of the constructionmachine;

FIG. 9 is a simple view showing a control system of the constructionmachine; and

FIG. 10 is a simple circuit diagram of the control system of theconstruction machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the next place, with reference to the drawings, the specificembodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below.FIG. 2 is a simple view of this construction machine S. Thisconstruction machine S is a hydraulic excavator and is provided with alower traveling body 1, and an upper pivoting body 3 to be pivotally fitabove the lower traveling body 1 via a pivoting mechanism 2. Theimplement 4 is continued to the upper pivoting body 3. This implement 4is provided with a boom 5 of which base is swingably coupled to theupper pivoting body 3, an arm 6 that is swingably coupled to the frontend of the boom 5, and a bucket 7 that is swingably coupled to the frontend of the arm 6. In addition, the upper pivoting body 3 is providedwith an operalor's cabin 11 or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the operator's cabin 11 of the upper pivotingbody 3, an operator's seat 13 is disposed at its center part andtraveling operation means 14 is disposed in front of this operator'sseat 13. This traveling operation means 14 is provided with travelinglevers 15 and 16, and traveling pedals 17 and 18 to swing integrallywith the traveling levers 15 and 16 respectively. In this case, if thetraveling levers 15 and 16 are pushed forward, the lower traveling body1 moves forward, and if the traveling levers 15 and 16 are pulledbackward, the lower traveling body 1 moves backward. In the meantime, inthe vicinity of the traveling operation means 14, a pedal for attachment8 is disposed, and further, at the side of one side window 9, aninstrument panel 10 is located.

In addition, at the side of the operator's seal 13, the operatingmachine levers 19 and 20 are arranged respectively. These operatingmachine levers 19 and 20 serve to perform seesaw movement of the boom 5,rotation of the arm 6 and the bucket 7, and the pivoting operation ofthe upper pivoting body 3. Further, in the vicinity of one operatingmachine lever 19, the lock lever 21 is provided. In this case, the locklever 21 serves to stop the operation of the implement 4, pivoting ofthe upper pivoting body 3, and traveling of the lower traveling body 1or the like. In other words, by performing the pulling-up operation ofthe lock lever 21, movement of the implement 4 or the like can be locked(regulated), and in this state, even if the operating machine levers 19and 20 or the like are operated, it is possible to prevent the implement4 or the like from operating.

In addition, in the operator's cabin 11 of this construction machine S,a monitor device 22 is provided to display the engine state or the like.In this case, the engine state means a temperature of engine coolingwater, a temperature of engine oil, and a fuel remaining quantity or thelike. In the meantime, this monitor device 22 is arranged at the lowerpart of a vertical frame 25 partitioning a front window 23 of theoperator's cabin 11 and one side window 9, and at a front surface of anexternal case 24, a monitor screen 26 and operation push buttons 27 arearranged. Further, this monitor screen 26 is made of, for example, aliquid crystal panel.

This monitor device 22 may display the information such as the operationand/or the operational method or the like to enhance the fuel efficiencyon its monitor screen 26 other than the above-described engine state andthe monitor device 22 forms the information providing means 3C). Here,the operation to enhance the fuel efficiency is, for example, theoperation of driving while decreasing the number of revolutions of theengine of the construction machine upon traveling the implement or thelike, and the operational method to enhance the fuel efficiency is, forexample, a method to locate the construction machine S in the vicinityof a dump truck T or the like and to load sediment on this dump truck Tby the construction machine S or the like.

FIG. 3 shows a relationship between the number of revolutions of theengine (rpm), fuel consumption (litter/h), and a car speed (Km/h). Inother words, if the number of revolutions of the engine is increased,the car speed is lowered, however, the fuel efficiency is enhanced. Inaddition, by decreasing the number of revolutions of the engine, thefuel efficiency (a traveling distance per litter of the fuel) isimproved, so that the driving with high efficiency is possible. In thiscase, for example, when traveling on a flat road by using theconstruction machine (the hydraulic excavator), if the number ofrevolutions of the engine is decreased from a full throttle state, thecar speed is lowered, however, the fuel consumption can be decreasedmore than this, and as a result, the power efficiency is improved.Therefore, as the operation to enhance the fuel efficiency, for example,“by traveling while decreasing the number of revolutions of the engine,to save fuel” or the like is displayed on the monitor screen 26. Inaddition, also in the case of performing the operation to excavate thesediment by using the implement 4, if the engine 40 (refer to FIG. 4)has the highest number of revolution, the operation speed is fast andthe output becomes highest, however, the fuel consumption is increased.On the contrary, if the number of revolutions of the engine 40 isdecreased, the operation speed and the output are decreased, however,the fuel consumption is also decreased and the fuel efficiency isenhanced. In this case, for example, using the construction machine (thehydraulic excavator) and defining a pivoting angle α (refer to FIG. 5)as 90 degrees, if the sediment is loaded five times and the number ofrevolutions of the engine is decreased from the full throttle state, theoperation quantity is decreased, however, the fuel consumption isdecreased more than this and as a result, the fuel efficiency isenhanced. Therefore, as the operation to enhance the fuel efficiency,for example, “by traveling while decreasing the number of revolutions ofthe engine, to save fuel” or the like is displayed on the monitor screen26. Further, FIG. 4 shows a relationship between the number ofrevolutions of the engine (rpm), fuel consumption (litter/h), and fuelefficiency (ton/litter). In other words, if the number of revolutions ofthe engine is decreased, the fuel consumption is decreased and the fuelefficiency is enhanced. Therefore, as the operation to enhance the fuelefficiency, for example, “by decreasing the number of high idlerevolution of the engine, fuel consumption is decreased and fuelefficiency is enhanced” or the like is displayed on the monitor screen26.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, in the operation to arrange the dumptruck T in the vicinity of this construction machine (a loading machine)Sand loading the sediment on the dump truck T by this constructionmachine S, depending on the pivoting angle α of the implement 4, thecycle time or the like is different. In other words, as being obviousfrom a relation between the pivoting angle α, the fuel consumption(litter/h), and the cycle time (second) shown in FIG. 6, the fuelconsumption is hardly changed, however, if the pivoting angle α isdecreased, the cycle time is decreased and the fuel efficiency isenhanced. In this case, for example, comparing the case that thepivoting angle α is 90 degrees upon using the construction machine (thehydraulic excavator) and the case that the pivoting angle α is 30degrees upon using the construction machine (the hydraulic excavator),the cycle time is shortened and the fuel efficiency is increased in thecase of 30 degrees than the case of 90 degrees, however, the operationquantity is increased more than these, and as a result, the fuelefficiency is enhanced. Therefore, as the operational method to enhancethe fuel efficiency, for example, “park a dump truck as close to aloading machine” or the like is displayed on the monitor screen 26.

Further, in the case of performing the excavating operation, the fuelefficiency or the like is different in the operation to scoop thesediment from a lower position as shown in FIG. 8 and in the operationto scoop the sediment at the lower position after scooping the sedimentat a higher position as shown in FIG. 7. In other words, according tothe method as shown in FIG. 8, the sediment in a B range is scoopedafter scooping the sediment in a range A, so that the moving amounts ofthe arm 6 and the boom 5 are increased, the fuel consumption isincreased, and the cycle time is made longer. On the contrary, accordingto the method as shown in FIG. 7, at first, the sediment in a C range isscooped, and then, the sediment in a D range is scooped, so that themoving amounts of the arm 6 and the boom 5 are decreased, the quantityof work and the fuel efficiency can be enhanced, and the cycle time ismade shorter. Therefore, as the operational method to enhance the fuelefficiency, for example, “by driving when a excavating position is high,the fuel efficiency is enhanced” or the like is displayed on the monitorscreen 26.

In the meantime, since traveling and various operations are generallynot performed during idling, the idling should be made a bare essentialminimum value. Therefore, as the operation to enhance the fuelefficiency, for example, “stop idling” or the like is displayed on themonitor screen 26. Further, the implement 4 is operated by a hydraulicpressure and if a frequency of a hydraulic pressure relief of thishydraulic circuit is increased, the fuel consumption is increased.Therefore, as the operational method to enhance the fuel efficiency, forexample, “refraining from the unreasonable lever operation in thehydraulic pressure relief, the fuel consumption is saved” or the like isdisplayed on the monitor screen 26.

The above-described various kinds of information may be provided beforestart of the operation or after closing of the operation. For example,the information may be displayed from a starting time of the engine 40during the operation in a warm air, the information may be constantlydisplayed, or the information may be displayed before operatingexcavating from a time when the operator arrives at a working scone. Inthis way, according to the construction machine structured as describedabove, since the operator can visually know the information such as theoperation and/or the operational method or the like to enhance the fuelefficiency from the display on the monitor screen 26 during thetraveling ard performing various operations, upon traveling andperforming the operation (for example, upon the excavating operation byusing the implement), the operator can try to drive the constructionmachine or to perform the operation for enhancement of the fuelefficiency so as to contribute to achievement of energy conservation. Inaddition, as the above-described embodiments, the information may beprovided by the display on the monitor screen 26 of the monitor device22 that is conventionally loaded oil such kind of construction machineor by the display of the operation or the like to enhance the fuelefficiency on a monitor for providing the information that is separatelyarranged and is different from the conventional monitor device 22.

In the meantime, according to this construction machine, as describedabove, the lock lever 21 having the function to lock the operation ofthe implement 4 or the like is provided, and in this case, detectingthat the lock lever 21 is operated to the lock side, it is possible toprovide the information such as the operation or the like to enhance thefuel efficiency upon idling. Further, when the operating machine levers19 and 20 are in a neutral position, detecting this neutral poison anddetecting a time upon idling as the idle revolution number at theneutral position, if the idling time in this neutral state is apredetermined time and over, it is possible to provide the informationsuch as the operation to enhance the fuel efficiency upon idling.

As shown in FIG. 9, the control system of the construction machine inthis case has a first pump 31 a and a second pump 31 b as a hydraulicpump 31, and has an engine controller 32 and a pump controller 33 as acontroller. In this FIG. 9, a reference numeral 34 denotes a governormotor and a reference numeral 35 denotes a swash plate driving device ofthe first pump 31 a, which is driven by the instruction from the pumpcontroller 33 and can change a tilt angle of the swash plate of the firshydraulic pump 31 a. Then, an actuator (hydraulic actuator) 37 isconnected to the first pump 31 a via a control valve 36. As the actuator37, a cylinder for a boom, a cylinder for an arm, a cylinder for abucket, a hydraulic motor for pivoting, and a hydraulic motor fortraveling or the like are available. In addition, the operating machinelever 19 (20) are connected to the second pump 31 b via a valve (asolenoid valve) 42. In this case, setting the number of revolutions ofthe engine governor by a fuel dial 38, on the basis of the actual numberof revolution of the engine 40 that is detected by the revolution sensor39, the control system may control a torque of best matching at eachoutput point of the engine 40 so as to be absorbed by the hydraulicpumps 1 a and 1 b.

Then, a PPC lock switch 41 is connected to the lock lever 21, and whenthis lock lever 21 is operated to the locking side, this switch 41 maydetect this operation and a signal may be transmitted from this switch41 to a valve (a solenoid valve) 42, and thereby, it is possible to stopthe functions such as the operation of the implement 4, pivoting of theupper pivoting body 3, and traveling of the lower traveling body 1 orthe like. In this case, the engine 40 has the idle revolution number andgoes into an idling state. In other words, as shown in FIG. 10, acontrol circuit of this control system is provided with a hydraulicdetector 45 configured by the PPC lock switch 41 or the like, an enginerevolution number detector (revolution sensor) 39, a fuel injectionquantity detector 46, an operating quantity detector 47, control means48 to which the data from those detectors 45, 39, 46 and 47 are inputtedor the like, and The control means 48 may output various instructions tothe information providing means 30 and the hydraulic actuator 37.Therefore, when detecting that the lock lever 21 is operated to the lockside, on the basis of this detection, the information such as theoperation or the like to enhance the fuel efficiency upon idling isprovided. In other words, as the operation to enhance the fuelefficiency, for example, “stop idling”, “decrease the number ofrevolutions of the engine upon idling” or the like can be displayed onthe monitor screen 26. This result in saving of the fuel upon idling orthe like and the energy saving can be reliably achieved. In themeantime, on the basis of the fuel injection quantity that is detectedby the fuel injection quantity detector 46, this control system cancalculate the fuel consumption quantity of this construction machine.Further, according to this control system, the operating quantitydetector 47 can detect the operating quantity or the like upon loadingthe sediment on the bucket 7. For example, the operating quantity uponloading can be obtained by detecting the loading quantity of the bucket7 by means of a monitor camera or the like from (loadingquantity×number/time), and the operating quantity upon transporting canbe obtained from (loading weight×distance) or the like.

In addition, if the operator positions the operating machine levers 19and 20 at a neutral position during operation, this control system candetect this by the PPC pressure. Therefore, in this neutral state, whenthe idling time of the idle revolution number is a predetermined timeand over, as the operation to enhance the fuel efficiency, for example,“stop idling” or the like can be displayed on the monitor screen 26. Inthis case, count means such as a timer or the like is connected to therevolution sensor 39 and the number of revolutions of the engine that isdetected by the revolution sensor 39 becomes the idle revolution number.Then, when this idle revolution number is continued, by measuring thecontinuing time of this idle revolution number, it is possible to detectif this continuing time is a predetermined time and over. Thus, when theoperating machine levers 19 and 20 are positioned at a neutral position,if the idling time becomes a predetermined time and over, the operatorcan be provided with the information such as the operation or the liketo enhance the fuel efficiency. Thereby, by preventing the idling for along period of time causing the wasteful use of the fuel, the energysaving can be achieved. In the meantime, a predetermined time of theidle revolution number can be arbitrarily set. In this case, if thepredetermined time is too short, positioning the operating machinelevers 19 and 20 at a neutral position, the operator is provided withsuch information immediately, however, when the operator clears up theneutral state immediately, providing of such information is useless, andon the contrary, if the neutral state is continued for a long time, theidling time becomes long and the fuel efficiency becomes unfavorable.Therefore, in consideration of these, this predetermined time ispreferably set as a time capable of contributing to the saving of energyif the operation to enhance the fuel efficiency is performed with theinformation offered.

According to other embodiment, by providing the voice generator (notillustrated) in the operator's cabin 11, the above-described informationmay be noticed to the operator in the operator's cabin 11 by the voiceattention from this voice generator. In other words, the voice generatormay generate the above-described various information by the voice thatis audible to the operator in the operator's cabin 11. In this case, thevoice attention of this voice generator may be displayed independentlyor it may be displayed together with the above-described monitordisplay. By the voice attention, the operator can grasp theabove-described various information while checking the forward from aforward window 23, so that it is possible to prevent the driving and theoperation of the construction machine from neglected. However, by thevoice attention, it may be difficult to hear the information due to thenoise or the like at a working scene, and in such a case, by the monitordisplay, the operator can notice the information. Therefore, using thevoice attention together with the monitor display, it is possible tonotify the operator of the information reliably.

In addition, according to still other embodiment, it is also possible toswitch the ON state displaying the above-described information into theOFF state not displaying such information by the information providingmeans 30. In other words, for example, in the case of the monitordisplay, by pushing a specific button of the push buttons 27 of themonitor display 22, the ON state can be switched into the OFF state. Inaddition, even in the case of the voice attention, by providing a switchor the like at the voice generator, the ON state can be switched intothe OFF state. Since the information providing means 30 can switchbetween the ON state displaying the above-described information and theOFF state not displaying such information in this way, when the operatordoes not consider enhancement of the fuel efficiency or the operatortakes the operation for enhancement of the fuel efficiency intoconsideration, namely, when the operator does not need to obtain theinformation, the information providing means 30 can be switched to theOFF state. In this case, the information is not provided to the operatorby the monitor display and the voice attention, so that the operator canconcentrate on the driving and operation of the constructing machine andthe operation of the implement. In addition, in the case of performingthe operation to enhance the fuel efficiency, by switching theinformation providing means 30 into the ON state, the information toenhance the fuel efficiency can be displayed by the monitor display andthe voice attention or the like, so that the operator can try to performdriving and operation to enhance the fuel efficiency.

According to still other embodiment, providing communication means, fromthe outside of the machine, namely from the operator (an administratorof the machine) located, in a different place from the operator's cabin11, the above-described information (information such as the operationor the like to enhance the fuel efficiency) may be notified to theoperator in the operator's cabin 11. In other words, an informationtransmitter at the side of the administrator of the machine is arranged,and further, a receiver (for example, a receiver provided on the monitordevice 22) to receive the data from the information transmitter isarranged on the side of the driver's cabin 11 of the constructionmachine. Then, transmitting the information such as the operation or thelike to enhance the fuel efficiency from the information transmitter tothe receiver as data, the information received by the receiver isdisplayed on the monitor screen 26 of the monitor device 22 as themonitor display and it is displayed by the voice generator as the voiceattention. If such communication means is provided, it is possible toencourage the operator located in the operator's cabin 11 to perform theoperation or the like for enhancing the fuel efficiency from theoperator (the administrator of the machine) located in the differentplace from the operator's cabin 11. In other words, in the case that theoperator in the operator's cabin 11 is not conscious of such operation(the operation for enhancing the fuel efficiency) when he or sheperforms the operation, it is possible to awaken this operator to thefact that he or she should perform the operation for enhancing the fuelefficiency so as to reliably achieve the energy saving. In addition,since the information is provided to the operator by the transmissionfrom the outside, it is possible to arbitrarily set timing to transmitthis information to the operator's cabin 11 and further, and it ispossible, to arbitrarily change the content of the information to betransmitted, so that the information corresponding to the operationperformed by the operator in the operator's cabin 11 or the operation tobe performed from now can be noticed to this operator, and this makes iteasy for the operator to enhance the fuel efficiency.

The specific embodiments of the present invention are as describedabove, however, the present invention is not limited to theabove-described embodiments and various modifications will becomepossible without departing from the scope the present invention. Forexample, it is preferable that the monitor display 22 is positioned at aplace where the operator can observe the monitor screen 26 when he orshe is seated on the driver's seat 13 to travel this constructionmachine or he or she uses the implement 4 to perform the operation,however, this is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 1. Inaddition, upon displaying the information on the monitor or by the voiceattention, the information may only about the operation to enhance thefuel efficiency or it may only about the operation method to enhance thefuel efficiency, or it may about both of them. Further, a phrase of themonitor display or the like is not limited to a catch-phrase as in theabove-described embodiments and it may be a short sentence such as“enhancement of the fuel efficiency” because the operator may try toperform the driving and the operation to enhance the fuel efficiencyonly by the word of “the fuel efficiency”. In addition, in the case ofmonitor display, as the above-described embodiments, the display may beonly composed of characters, however, together with the characters, adrawing (a picture) to grasp the information may be available and suchdrawing (picture) may be independently used while omitting thecharacters. In the meantime, the construction machine S is not limitedto the hydraulic excavator and various machines such as a crane and acrushing machine or the like may be available.

1. A construction machine comprising: information providing means (30)to notify the operator of the information such as the operation and/oran operational method or the like to enhance fuel efficiency.
 2. Theconstruction machine according to claim 1, wherein said constructionmachine provides the information by monitor display on a monitor screen(26) that is disposed in an operator's cabin (11).
 3. The constructionmachine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said construction machinecomprises a voice generator and provides the information to the operatorby voice attention by means of said voice generator.
 4. The constructionmachine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said construction machinetransmits this information from the outside of the machine to notify theoperator of this information.
 5. The construction machine according toclaim 1 or 2, wherein said construction machine provides the informationupon starting of an engine.
 6. The construction machine according toclaim 1 or 2, wherein said information providing means (30) can switchbetween an ON state to provide the information and an OFF state not toprovide the information.
 7. The construction machine according to claim1 or 2, wherein said construction machine comprises a lock lever (21)having a function to lock the operation of an implement (4) or the like,and detecting that this lock lever (21) is operated to the lock side,said construction machine provides the information such as the operationor the like to enhance the fuel efficiency upon idling.
 8. Theconstruction machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, detecting thatoperating machine levers (19) and (20) are positioned at a neutralposition and that the number of revolutions of an engine (40) is thenumber of idling revolution, and then, when this number of idlingrevolution is a predetermined time and over, said construction machineprovides the information such as the operation or the like to enhancethe fuel efficiency upon idling.